Metal awning



Aug 10, 1954 H. M. HELE 2,685,715

METAL AWNING Filed Sept. 30, 1949 6 '5 A0 INVENTOR.

I HERBERT M.HELT. I II M, M T1 7. Fi .5.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 10, 1954 METAL AWNING Herbert M. Helt,

Bellevue, Pa, assigncr to K001 Vent Metal Awning Corporation of America, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 30, 1949, Serial No. 118,919

5 Claims. 1

This invention relates to metal awnings, and, more particularly, to improved fastening struc ture for securing the metal roofing elements of an awning in position on a supporting structure.

More specifically, this invention relates to fastening structure of the type shown in the copending applications of Meyer Harrison and Samuel B. Korman, Serial No. 635,214, filed December 15, 1945, and of Herbert M. Helt, Serial No. 659,349, filed April 3, 1946, to which reference is hereby made. The fastening structure of this invention embodies features common to the inventions covered by the said copending applications.

In awnings of the type with which this invention is concerned, there is generally provided a sloping roof section or panel in which the roofing elements are comprised of upper and lower series of spaced and alternately reversed light sheet metal channels. In the lower series, the channels have webs provided. with flanges extending upwardly from the edges thereof to form a troughlike structure, and they are commonly referred to in the art as pans. The pans are spaced at regular intervals from one another. Spanning the openings between the pans and overlapping the upturned flanges are the inverted channels of the upper series which are referred to in the art as covers. The covers are in vertically spaced relation to the pans to provide ventilation so that air immediately under the awning which E is warmed by contact with the roof surface of the awning may escape from under the awning. At the same time, the overlapping of the flanges on the covers and the pans prevents the direct rays of the sun from entering through the space between the covers and the pans, even when the rays are slanting at a considerable angle, and prevents the wind-driven rain and snow from traveling through such space and thus to the area underneath the awning.

In the above-mentioned applications, the depending flanges on the upper series channels or covers are provided with inwardly-extending lips for interlocking engagement with fastening elements secured to a supporting frame structure. The interlock between the fiange lips and fastening elements operates to secure the upper channels to the supporting frame structure with their webs in a plane spaced from the webs of the lower channels. In addition, the fastening elements operate to secure the lower channels to the supporting frame structure. In my earlier-filed copending application, the fastening elements are positioned to one side of the lower channels and engage with the upper edges of their upwardlyextending flanges to secure the lower channels in position, and have an interlocking part extending inwardly for interlocking engagement with a flange lip of an upper channel to secure such upper channel in position, the interlocking part having a sloping surface for camming the lip of the upper channel to a position in which it can move into interlocking engagement with such interlocking part.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide an improved fastening structure for securing the roofing elements of a metal awning in position, which will facilitate the connection of roofing elements comprising spaced upper and lower channels in position on a supporting frame. To this end, the fastening element of this invention has an interlocking part similar to that shown in my earlier-filed copending application, and an L-shaped structure by which the interlocking part may be secured in an opera' tive fastening position. The runners forming a part of the supporting structure for the roofing elements are sheet metal channels and a flange thereof which has supporting engagement with the roofing elements is provided with elongated openings at spaced intervals along its length. The provision of the elongated openings enables an L-shaped structure at the base of the fastening element to be swung into an operative fastening position. According to another feature of this invention, the elongated openings are formed by a lancing operation, anda portion of the metal lanced to form the opening is utilized to provide a tongue which may be jammed into engagement with the fastening element to provide a means for preventing movement of the fastening element out of its operative fastening position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

In the drawings, 'there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, In this showing:

Fig. l is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of a roof structure corresponding to this invention and illustrating in elevation the improved fastening device of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line I.'f I of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken longitudinally and centrally of one of the lower channels;

Fig. 1- is a sectional view taken substantially along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3 illustrating a plurality of alternately and reversely arranged chan" nels forming part of a roof covering;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of one of the supportin runners illustrating the manner in which an elongated opening is formed therein by a lancing operation;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line VL-VI of Fig.

Fig. '7 is a side elevational view of one of the C- shaped fastening elements or this invention; and

Fig. 8 is a front elevational View of the C shaped fastening device shown in Fig. '7.

In the drawings, the roof structure, as best illustrated in Fig. l, comprises a plurality of alternately and reversely arranged upper and lower channels i and 2 mounted in position on a transversely-extending runner or channel frame 3 of a supporting framework. The lower channels 3 are commonly referred to in the art as ans or troughs, and the upper channels i are commonly referred. to as covers. The upper channels i have depending flanges alon each edge thereof which provided with inwardly-extending lips 5 spaced from the channel web. The channels l, in a manner to be described, are secured to the frame channels 3 by C-shaped fastening elements indicated a whole by the numeral ii which, in addition, operate to space the lower channels 2 from each other. ihe lower channels 2, identical in structure to the upper channel l, are provided with upwardly-extending flanges i and inweirdly-turned lips ll spaced from the channel web. The lower channels are also secured to the supporting channel frame 3 by the fastening elements 5 in a manner to be described. The channels 5 and 2 are mounted in position in such manner that their webs are in parallel. planes and the channels 5 constitute a cover for the space between the channels 2. The opposite ly projecting flanges i and l function as a baflie by which hot air under the channels i may escape or pass to the space over the channels In addition, the baiiie arrangement of the oppositely projecting flanges :l and "i is operable to prevent rain and snow and direct rays of sunlight from entering the space under the upper channels l.

The G-shaped fastening elements it, as best shown in Figs. 7 and 8, are sections of an extruded metal rod, preferably aluminum, having a C- shaped cross section. These fastening elements each comprise an interlocking part ii and an L.- shaped unting part in which the vertical portion if} forms the leg of the L. and the portion ll forms the of the i... The interlocking part 9 has upper surface if. for engagement with the under surface of a web of a channel l, and a rounded tip for interlocking engagement in the come pro by the intersection of the flanges l and the integral lips 5. A sloping surface It is provided for carnlning the lips 5 to a position in which they move into interlockin engagement over the tip 53. A notch i5 is provided below the surface if for engagement over the flange lips E3 of the lower channels it in a manner to be described.

The runners 3 which support the roof elements I and 2 are channels which are formed from sheet metal and have a flange is on which the lower channels 2 are placed with their webs in supporting engagement therewith. The flanges it are provided with elongated openings ll as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The openings ii are formed preferably by a, lancing operation in such manner that a tongue it is formed by the material lanced to form the openings ii. A portion of the end of the tongue E8 is removed so that it has a length less than the length of the openin if by an amount about the same as the thickness of the leg is on the fastening element 8 for a purpose to be described. As best shown in Figs. 1 and l, adjacent lanced openings ll are reversely arranged so that the tongues l8 extend in opposite directions longitudinally of the flange it. The inner edges is of adjacent openings ll are spaced apart on the flange it a distance equal to the desired distance between the adjacent upturned flanges l of successive lower channels 2.

in constructing an awning, the supporting framework including the channels 3 is first placed in position. A pan 2 is then placed on the flanges it with opposite edges adjacent similar edges IQ of spaced openings ii in the flange 56.

The pan is then secured in position by fastening elements 5.

The fastening elements 5 are mounted by first hooking their notches it over a lip 3 of a vertically-extending flange "a in a position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l. The fastening element is then swung or rotated to move the base member l l to the position shown in full lines with the upper surface of the base ll abutting against the under surface of the flange 56 and the leg iii extending vertically through the opening it along the outer surface the upturned flange '3. During the swinging movement of the fastening member 6 from the position in dotted lines to the position shown in sol {1 lines, the base ll will move through the opening ll, and. opening it is elongated in order to allow the movement of the base it therethrough. As the fastening elements move into their fastening; position, the lip 8 moves into the notch or groove spaced inwardly from the surface it of fastening element 6. After the fastening element has been swung to its operative fastening position in this manner, the tongue it is jammed upwardly into abutting engagement with the base of the leg it to prevent accidental swinging movement of the fastening element to disengaged position. The engagement of the tongue with the base of the leg it is effective to prevent movement of the fastening part i i through the opening iii. The tongue iii is shortened as ascribed above so that its tip will more into abuttin and jamming engagement with a side surface of the leg ill.

As soon as the fastening elements on two adjacent pans are in position as illustrated in Fig. 1., a cover 5 may be applied to the fastening elements Application of the cover i made by placing it position with the inner ed. of its lips 5 engaged with the sloping surfaces Ml. The covers i are then forced inwardly. and during this movement the lips i are camrned outwardly durin their movement over the canirning surfaces As the under surface of the web of the channel i moves into engagement with the surfaces if of the fastening elements the lips 5 will clear the tip 53 f the fastening and will snap into the position shown in Figs. 1 and e. In this position, the tip l3 will be interlock d the corner provided at the intersection of the flange fl and. integral lip 5. The cover i will then be in operative position spaced from and against movement with respect to the channels 2.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the fastening element 6 provides an effective fastening device for securing channehshaped roofing elements in position ans facili..ates the assembly of a roofing structure from channelshaped roofing elements. Attention particularly directed to the fact that the elongation of secured the opening I! enables swinging movement of the fastening elements to their operative fastening positions after having been hooked over an upwardly-turned lip 8. Attention is also directed to the fact that the provision of the wedging tongue l8 provides an effective lock for preventing return movement of the fastening elements through the openings I! to a withdrawn or inoperative position.

While I have illustrated and described one specific embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that this is merely by way of illustration, and that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the contemplation of my invention and under the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A roofing structure comprising metal channel runners having a flange with elongated openings therein, lower channels having upwardly extending flanges supported on the runners and spaced apart thereon, upper channels having downwardly extending flanges mounted to overlie the spaces between the lower channels, and a fastening element for securing the roof channels to said runners comprising a C-shaped member consisting of a thin section cut from the end of an extruded rod having a C-shaped cross section, said member having a leg extending along the upwardly extending flange of the lower channel, a head connected with the top of the leg and extending down over the upwardly extending flange of the lower channel into locking engagement with the lower portion of the downwardly extending flange of the upper channel and a base of the member connected with the lower end of the leg and extending substantially at right angles thereto, said member being movable with a substantially rotary movement while its head is engaged with the upwardly extending flange of the lower channel to move said base member through said opening to a position in which the base is parallel to and in abutting engagement with the underside of said runner flange.

' 2. The roof structure as defined in claim 1 in which inwardly-turned lips are formed on the flanges of the lower channels and a notch is formed in the lower side of the element head to embrace the lip on thelower channel flanges.

3. The roof structure defined in claim 1 in which the runner flange has a tongue below said opening which is movable into a locking position against the bottom of the leg of the fastening element to prevent a return swinging movement of said element out of its operative fastening position.

4. The roof structure as defined in claim 3 in which the tongue is formed by the metal removed from the flange to provide said opening, said tongue being integral with said flange and movable to said locking position by a bending action.

5. A roof structure comprising supporting metal runners, a roof surface including a series of spaced lower channels mounted on the runners, said lower channels each having a web with a flange extending upwardly from each side of the web, said runners including a sheet metal flange in supporting engagement with the webs of said lower channels and having a series of spaced-apart elongated openings therein, fastening elements mounted in the runners at each side of the lower channels to secure the lower channels to the runners, said fastening members having C-shaped thin sections, cut from the end of a metal rod having a C-shaped cross section, the back leg of the 0 being mounted against an upwardly-extending flange of a lower channel, the top head of the 0 having a notch in its lower side and engaging the top of a flange of the lower channel and the base of the 0 extending at right angles to the leg of the C and extending through the elongated opening in the runner and engaging the bottom of the runner flange, a tongue integral with the runner flange extending downwardly at one end of the elongated opening which is yieldable to permit the base of the C-shaped member to pass through the elongated opening and spring into engagement with the bottom of the 0 leg when the base of the C engages the bottom of the runner flange to lock the 0 member in position, a series of upper channels covering the space between the lower channels, said upper channels having downwardly-extending flanges with inwardly-turned lips theron and inclined surfaces on the heads of the 0 members positioned to force the upper channel lips outwardly when the upper channels are forced over the C member heads to allow the lips to snap into locking engagement with the heads at the bottom of the inclined surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 448,529 Link Mar. 17, 1891 854,209 Goss May 21, 1907 1,674,210 Loucks June 19, 1928 1,770,063 Bloss et al July 8, 1930 1,780,862 Bloss Nov. 4, 1930 2,375,409 Glitsch May 8, 1945 2,411,628 Labaree Nov. 26, 1946 2,442,891 Harrison et a1 June 8, 1948 2,542,919 Freeman Feb. 20, 1951 2,598,691 Helt June 3, 1952 

